Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Takes Complete Accountability While Slightly Ripping George Pickens

The Pittsburgh Steelers played one of their most important games of the season on Saturday night as they squared off against the Cincinnati Bengals for the second time during the 2024 campaign. The game was important for seeding in the playoffs as the Steelers had already clinched their spot in the postseason, but the team failed to show up for the fourth consecutive week. Pittsburgh will now travel to play either the Houston Texans or Baltimore Ravens in the postseason, which will both be tough games if the team continues to play like it has.

The Steelers have now lost four games in a row at a crucial point in the season. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is once again allowing his team to limp into the playoffs with little-to-no life. Both sides of the ball struggled at times during the loss to the Bengals, but the defense eventually turned it around. 

The offense was a disaster the entire night as the group failed to score more than 17 points for the fourth straight week, and each player struggled in their own ways. Tight end Pat Freiermuth spoke about what the offense needs to do moving forward with the media after the game.

"Execution." Freiermuth said. "Taking care of the ball, catching footballs, stuff that we do routinely, gotta make those plays."

These are obvious things that every offense in the NFL tries to do. The Steelers are typically some of the best in the league when it comes to not turning the ball over, which is something that has to happen in the postseason. 

Another issue Pittsburgh had in the loss to Cincinnati was dropped footballs, mainly by the usually-reliable George Pickens. The third-year wide receiver had three drops, while Freiermuth and Calvin Austin III also missed some catchable passes. Freiermuth was able to denote that this was a key factor in the offensive struggles for Pittsburgh.

Pickens had six targets and just one reception for zero yards in the loss to the Bengals, which is a team he usually thrives against. The wide receiver just came back from injury in Week 17, so there is a chance he is just getting used to being back on a football field and knocking the rust off. Steelers fans typically expect to see spectacular catches from the provocative receiver, not routine drops. 

Freiermuth is one of the team leaders in Pittsburgh, and he has been seen calming Pickens down on the sideline multiple times during the 2024 season. The tight end had to do this again on Saturday night as the wide receiver started getting into with the fans behind the bench on Pittsburgh's sideline. It's no secret that Pickens often struggles to keep his emotions in check, and that was on full display as he struggled in the regular season finale.

Steelers' George Pickens Might Have Easily Played His Last Game At Acrisure Stadium

Barring a miracle, playoff football won't be coming to western Pennsylvania. The Steelers will have to play on the road throughout the playoffs, and Pickens' future in Pittsburgh is uncertain to say the least. He will be going into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and he is eligible for an extension after the 2024 season officially ends. He is clearly frustrated at times playing in Pittsburgh, and his production and behavior up until this point in his career doesn't match that of the NFL's highest-paid receivers.

The organization will have an interesting decision to make regarding the talented wide receiver's future after the 2024 season. If General Manager Omar Khan knows he does not want to offer a new contract to Pickens, he should trade him before the 2025 season begins. The Steelers have never really allowed Pickens to reach his full potential due to Tomlin's team consistently being 30 years behind the rest of the NFL, so he would be attractive trade target to some other organization.

What did you think about Pickens' performance on Saturday night? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation